# Power Curve Question **URL:** \ **Category:** TrainerRoad Software\ **Created:** [July 27, 2020, 12:31pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/power-curve-question/40000 "2020-07-27T12:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RJYEOMAN](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rjyeoman/32/7746_2.png) [@RJYEOMAN](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/RJYEOMAN)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 12:31pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/power-curve-question/40000/1 "2020-07-27T12:31:00Z")
Trying to understand how my power curve from Saturday (outside ride) has some larger bumps in it where the power on the chart increases with time instead of decreases. I hadn’t seen this before. Can someone explain what causes this? ---
**Author:** ![cartsman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/cartsman/32/18565_2.png) [@cartsman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/cartsman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 12:55pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/power-curve-question/40000/2 "2020-07-27T12:55:15Z")
Seen the same thing occasionally and guessing it’s just a quirk of the way you were putting out power. E.g. let’s say you had a 10 minute period where you started with doing 1 minute at 500W, then settled into 250W for 8 minutes, then did another 1 minute at 500W. Your 10 minute average would be: (8x250)+(2x500)/10 = 300W Your best 9 minute average within that timeframe would be: (8x250)+(1x500)/9 = 278W Obviously unlikely to be as clearcut as that, but shows how it’s possible for average power to be higher over a longer timeframe than a shorter one. ---
**Author:** ![AndyGajda](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/andygajda/32/1052_2.png) [@AndyGajda](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AndyGajda)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/power-curve-question/40000/3 "2020-07-27T13:11:09Z")
That’s pretty much spot on. If you did a 7 min effort with a sprint at the end and a sprint at the start your 5 min average power will be less than your seven min average power.